First Impressions: 2020 Cadillac CT5

The Cadillac ATS and CTS didn't sell well. They had great handling and a large selection of engines, but they were hampered by interiors that were cramped for the class and infotainment systems that could confound people. Sedans are dying, Cadillac gets that too. That's why they are consolidating the ATS and CTS onto a single car called the CT5, released last week at the New York International Auto Show. Rumors have it that the CT5 will start in the mid-30s and Cadillac is insisting that, despite its size, the CT5 is aligned against the 3-series and C-Class. But in doing so, where does that leave the car? Could Cadillac be realigning their cars so they become the largest cars in a particular price class? It would be a very traditionally Cadillac thing to do. There was a time when Cadillac would brag about having the longest production cars in its class. Even the original CTS was sized like a 5-series but priced like a 3-series. More on that later.

I'm a lifelong fan of Cadillac. I want to be excited about the CT5. While I do think the car looks handsome, it doesn't excite me like the CT6 does. There is no one thing I can put my finger on, not even the black plastic triangle playing the part of a third window. The car just doesn't command a presence as the CT6 does. And though the overall look of the front is handsome, I get flashbacks of Impala from certain angles. It does look far better in person than Cadillac's or my own photography show.

Inside, Cadillac has upped their game on the quality of the materials, but they phoned the styling in. As some readers have pointed out, it even appears as if some trim pieces have been repurposed from the CTS. There is a large tablet stuck to the dash for the infotainment system, which is thankfully no longer the old CUE system. It looks to be similar in function and layout to those found in GMC's trucks. I have found that system to work well, so I don't see any problem there. A large dial in the center console can control the unit as well, useful if you're wearing gloves. Capacitive touch buttons have been replaced by real physical buttons. They are well weighted and feel substantial, indeed even Mercedes-like for the HVAC controls. Cadillac took to heart all of the criticism over their gauges in the previous cars and produced a good looking set of round dials for tach and speedometer with a driver information screen between. The seats are firm and supportive, getting into position is quick and easy, but they don't match the 24+ way seats that Lincoln is offering these days. Rear seat room has improved dramatically over the ATS, though feels about the same as a CTS. Cadillac's Precision Control Shift is there. I've found it annoying to use, but it has a similar operation to the BMW gear control that many people like, so maybe it is just me. I think Cadillac (and everyone else) should chuck the shifter knob on their cars and go to something more digital. One piece of technology in the CT5 that I really love is Cadillac's SuperCruise. I've used SuperCruise to drive from Pittsburgh to New York, roughly 350 miles, and I was only actively piloting the car for about 10% of the time.

Engines in the CT5 seem to be introductory offers, but there is also room to grow. The base engine is a 2.0 liter twin-scroll turbo producing 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. That's a bit light for the class. The optional engine is a 3.0 liter twin-turbo making 335 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are mated to a 10-speed automatic with all-wheel drive optional. Both engines also have displacement on demand and can shut down cylinders to conserve fuel in light-load situations. Cadillac has plenty of room to maneuver here with engines though. For future versions like V-Sport and V-Series, they have the 400hp version of the 3.0TT, or the 420hp 3.6TT, or the new 4.2 liter Blackwing when more performance is called for.

Overall, this could be a very compelling car starting at $34,995 and being as long as a Mercedes-Benz E-Class. That's where the size issue comes in. Cadillac would have a hard time moving this CT5 if they price it alongside the same size German models. If this is going to be Cadillac's strategy, offer the biggest car for the price, then they need to drum that mindset into the heads of consumers. That takes advertising dollars. Otherwise, they are just going to be repeatedly compared to vehicles outside of their price class and lose in every comparison test. The CT6 being priced just $1,000 more than an E-Class leads me to believe this is what they are intending to do.

Read other First Impressions from the New York International Auto Show below:

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Pricing is key for them. If they price it like a Lexus ES or Acura TLX But have a better chassis and engine options, I think they can beat those cars. They probably need this car to start in the $30s to give the salespeople a compelling reason for people to buy it.

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This is Mary Barra's GM. I doubt the CT5 will start much lower than $39,995.

The CT5 competes with the E Class and the 5 Series, so pricing will matter but Cadillac does not quite have the brand equity of the E and the 5 to price above those two. Now a Lexus GS should be the main price target of the CT5.

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This is Mary Barra's GM. I doubt the CT5 will start much lower than $39,995.

The CT5 competes with the E Class and the 5 Series, so pricing will matter but Cadillac does not quite have the brand equity of the E and the 5 to price above those two. Now a Lexus GS should be the main price target of the CT5.

But the media people at the show I have listened to are being told by Cadillac that the CT5 competes with a C-class.

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So Cadillac is saying that the CT5, despite the fact that it 5 Series size, is a 3 Series competitor? How does that work and how does that affect the past statements of there being a CT4 (which was supposed to be the ATS replacement)? What is real and what is not?

Also, I agree about the presence factor. The CT6 ( and the current CTS) both have it while this one a mixed bag.

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So Cadillac is saying that the CT5, despite the fact that it 5 Series size, is a 3 Series competitor? How does that work and how does that affect the past statements of there being a CT4 (which was supposed to be the ATS replacement)? What is real and what is not?

Also, I agree about the presence factor. The CT6 ( and the current CTS) both have it while this one a mixed bag.

If they price it in the high $30s I guess it would compete with a Q50, 3-series, TLX, MKX, ES350, S60, etc. Although the 3-series is a bit the oddball of that group.

Really what Cadillac should say, it is a mid-size luxury sedan at X price, and not compare it to BMW.

CT4 might be the size of today's ATS, but like $29,995. Maybe it will be the size of today's ATS but with a CT6 level interior and cost the same as a CT5. Who knows. I don't get why the big car necessarily has to have the best interior, why can't the small car have the best interior and maybe they sell interior vs size and horsepower on CT4.

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I like the write up. It’s brutally honest. And I do like the holla. (Repurposing trim pieces) so thanks.

I agree with a lot of what you said. I get the feeling you’re not awestruck by this car. And I’d bet almost no one else is either.

I like the strategy of selling a larger car than the 3 series etc. this is an advantage that caddy fans would take to like you pointed out. I have a hard time believing this car will sticker at 35 for starters. Like Tesla would either. My reasoning. The XT4 is mostly all above 35k. And the CT5 should price higher. And GM never keeps prices attractively low. The current CTs if you look at the actual units at dealers they sticker 55k and up. I don’t doubt the CT5 May have a lot on the lot that is less than that.... I am guessing they will start CT5 at about 42k and up. Most xt4’s on the lot are mid forties for starters so I imagine most ct5’s on the lot will be 46-50k for starters. Maybe the ct4 is what will be 35k. And will the ct4 have the same 2.0 engine? Why two models?

Styling and interiors is what Cadillac needed to solve to have high hopes with this model release and for their brand. And I don’t think they have got it done here. It’s not a knockout or even a solid double inside and out. In the end I think it will drive well but I think this will be a market wallflower. Sad to say. Needs a bit more base engine. Needed styling outside. Needed awesome interior (although the GM picture album you posted it looks awesome in those pics inside ). Needs low price now just to hope to move these I think. Unless the 3.0 is cheap and popular. My advice for Cadillac is get the incentivized lease programs going otherwise not a lot to go on. Give me a ct6 or another brand.

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To the rear seats... How do they feel though? How does the material feel? Is the seating arrangement up to snuff? The video reviews I've seen say nothing negative about the rear seat. Also.. from what I saw.. the materials are carried over from the CTS.

Lastly.. pricing is to be between where the ATS was, $36K sedan/39K COupe and the CTS which started at $47K.. which means it will most likely be in the $43K range

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While the CT5 does not carry the presence of the CT6 and I will attribute this to the over kill use of the Coupe design plus shaving here and there, the bigger reason is public perception of cars which is dying as folks move to trucks and SUV/CUVs in replacement of cars.

Honestly, Cadillac could kill off a CT4, no need, just keep the CT5 and CT6 and upgrade the interiors and keep it best in class. Luxury does not need anything below the CT5 / low $30K to $20 K line when you have Buick and Cheverolet. Focus on world class with best ATP's.

Then pour the rest of the money into the CUV / SUV lineup and focus on EVs.

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Cadillac has an opportunity to focus on quality with ATP over volume while they build superior EVs.

The whole focus here is that Solid State batteries which are moving from R&D into production by Dyson, Panasonic, Toshiba, Samsung, MIT - Ionic Materials have the benefit of doubling energy density in up to half the package size.

Example of this is the 200 kWh battery pack Tesla is putting in the Roadster 2.0 that is 310 miles of range, drops almost to half the weight and yet gets 620 miles of range with Solid State batteries and no rare earth metals.

There is also the advanced research that has gone on by PNNL here in the PNW that is using a Solid State Lithium battery as a mid step to the Crystal Polymer solid state battery that Dyson, Samsung and Ionic Materials are developing into commercial cells.

The PNNL uses existing Lithium and unlike current batteries where cells start to decay after 100 cycles of fast charging, these new solid state Lithium batteries can handle 700 fast charging cycles before decay even starts. Far longer battery life than most are used to having and again without rare earth Cobalt.

Toyota and VW both have moved into early production runs of their new Solid state batteries that also have the benefit of NOT loosing charge or capacity in extreme heat or cold. Right now their batteries can go from -50 to 212 with no degradation or explosive issues like a liquid Lithium battery does.

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And you want them to stay stuck in the past. You should have been born in the late 1800s so that you tell folks like Henry Ford and their ilk how no one wants gas powered cars when we already have a abundance of horses available.

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^ Except internal combustion vehicles took off FAR faster than EVs have done over the last, well to be honest; efforts go back to the 1970s [if you push the whole early 1900s EV market off to one side].

RE the Tesla Roadster : I'm not seeing it on the Tesla site; available to build & price. Perhaps those vids were taken before Elon shot it into space.

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^ Except internal combustion vehicles took off FAR faster than EVs have done over the last, well to be honest; efforts go back to the 1970s [if you push the whole early 1900s EV market off to one side].

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There is word that the V-series version of the Cadillac CT5 will also debut. It is likely to pack the same 4.2-liter Blackwing V8 that is available in the CT6. The CT4 V-series is likely to get an uprated version of the 3.0TT.
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